So you find out your pregnant… and you suddenly have a massive list of questions… “what food should I be eating?”, “How much water should I be drinking”, “Where will I deliver?”, “Can I do this?”, and another common one is… “Should I stop exercising?”… My answer to that last question is, absolutely not!!*
*The exception to this, of course, all depends on how you are feeling and your doctor’s recommendations! ALWAYS be sure to consult with a medical professional before engaging in any activity at any new stage of your life!*
Of course, I’m not recommending every new pregnant woman goes out and does a bunch of HIIT classes!! Anything to safely get the heart rate up, get the muscles working, joints moving, and core properly engaged.
Top 5 Benefits of Exercise for Mom During Pregnancy:
1. Easier Labor
Research from Dr James Clapp, author of Exercising Through Your Pregnancy, 2nd Edition, finds that moms who exercise during their pregnancies experience an easier labor… with less need for pain relief during labor, a decreased risk of non-surgical interventions and decreased risk of surgical interventions. They also are more likely to experience less time in labor.
2. Fewer Pregnancy Discomforts
Dr. Clapp’s research also shows that moms who exercise during pregnancy are less likely to experience back pain and discomfort from a growing fetus. They are less likely to have gestational diabetes and reduce the chance of having Preeclampsia (Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension).
3. Positive Mind/Endorphins
Exercise creates endorphins… endorphins encourage a positive mindset! Some research says a positive mom during pregnancy, leads to a happy baby both in and out of the womb.
During pregnancy, your thoughts have a physical connection to your growing baby.
According to Dr. Thomas Verny – a psychiatrist who specializes in the effects of the prenatal and early postnatal environment on a mom and child’s personality development – “Everything the pregnant mother feels and thinks is communicated through neurohormones to her unborn child, just as surely as are alcohol and nicotine” during the gestational period.
4. Healthy Weight Gain
One of the most common concerns women have when they become pregnant is gaining too much weight and having a hard time getting the weight off postpartum. With the right amount of exercise during your pregnancy, you are more likely to gain weight that is healthy for both you and your baby as your body works hard to grow your little bundle of joy.
Studies show you’re also likely to have an easier time shedding weight postpartum if you exercise during your pregnancy.
5. Less Time Spent Pregnant
Some studies show that exercising during your pregnancy leads to less time being pregnant – meaning, you’re more likely to go into labor closer to your due date, rather than past your due date.
Does Baby Benefit From Mom Exercising While Pregnant?
Guess what, the benefits don’t end there! The baby(ies) growing in your womb also receive a boost of awesomeness from mom’s choice to keep moving during pregnancy.
Top 5 Benefits of Prenatal Exercise For BABY
Babies Born to Mom’s who exercise also are provided with a boost of benefits! According to the study from Dr Clapp, babies born to moms who exercised during their pregnancy typically have:
- Increased Physical Health Scores
- Increased Intelligence Scores
- Fewer Fetal Interventions
- Fewer Pregnancy Complications
- Improved Nutrient And Waste Exchange
BONUS: CORRECTIVE EXERCISE Benefits for MOM and her Changing Body During Pregnancy
Moms who engage in prenatal corrective exercise during their pregnancies, are…- Less Likely To Develop Diastasis Recti (Separation of the abdominal wall that can occur during pregnancy or postpartum)
- Less Likely To Have Incontinence (Bladder/bowel leakage due to prolapse and weak pelvic floor)
- Less Likely To Experience Back Pain Due To Distended Belly (as the pregnant belly grows, our body shifts forward due to a weak and dysfunctional core)
- Likely to Bounce Back Faster Postpartum (limit the disconnect to your tummy and pelvic floor muscles after delivery)
- Like to Have Fewer Postpartum-Related Discomforts (i.e. back pain from hip-carrying/car seat carrying, bending to change diaper, discomforts from nursing or baby-wearing)